Stuck in startup repair loop and no safe mode access

Im stuck in the repair loop. I was able to get into safemode before but now it always goes to the startup repair that cant be fixed. I get the error code 0x490. Also when it does the does the search for Windows it says its on E drive. Which is the drive letter of a 2nd HD. The main thing is my user accounts no longer show up. I cant find my user doc,pics etc. I can do the notepad/my computer from the cmd prompt and look at some files but all the main ones I need to save are gone. I have my Win7 install disk and have done most things suggested. So are all my files gone for good? I just wanted to try and get my docs, pics and all off and then just re install windows. Thanks-Chris

Hi Pigdog99, welcome to the Forum.

How many drive do have in that computer. Windows should be on C drive & not on E drive.

Have you recently reinstalled Windows with more than one drive connected to the motherboard. If so the installation of Windows often gets put on the wrong drive or the boot files get misplaced.

Have you had a look in the BIOS to see what the boot order is. Try setting the drive that should have Windows on it as the first in the boot order.

Report back with answers to these questions & any other info that you think could help.

No I installed win7 on the ssd as c: the 2nd drive was added at a later time. I found it strange that it finds the os on E:and not C:. When using the DIR cmd it lists no files on c. Also if I type in D: and dir it lists files there. I never had a D: drive. I confirmed when I could get into safe mode that the windows files were on the C: drive which confused me on the repair screen it always listed the OS as on E:. I was able to do a full scan with Malwarebytes in safe mode before it stopped booting and it found nothing.

Have look at it by booting the win 7 install disk. Try running recovery options ( Repair My Computer) first. You can also launch notepad from the command prompt in the booted recovery environment.

Just to say that I had a similar problem a couple of months ago. Something screwed up MBR and resulted in a startup repair loop.

Tried the fix here:

Startup Repair Infinite Loop Recovery

It didn't work though. Solution was to boot into PE from USB and use a partition tool to fix drive letters then still in PE use the same partiton tool to wipe windows partition. That allowed me to restore backup of windows partition using Macrium Reflect USB. You might be able to copy files to another partition/ drive using PE.

I can't really give specific help though.

Ive done the repair loop fix and that didnt work. The main problem is my user accounts are gone. All the docs, pics, saves, desktop files arent there. It only lists public as the only user. So why would my user files folders be gone but other windows files show up? So if I can use the notebook file open option does that show me all the files I can access? Is there any different paths for user files? Would booting a Rufus Usb allow you more file access in windows? I pretty much just need to find my user files and folders. If there not showing up then they must be gone.

Try creating a bootable USB with PE on it:

Make A Bootable USB Using AOMEI PE Builder

Boot using the USB then see what files you can find. Move important stuff to another partition of possible.

Also use the built in tools to check disk management and see which drives show up. Check drive letters and contents. If drive letters look wrong correct them using the partition tool. Note: If using the partition tool you need to make changes one at a time only and click the apply button before making any other change.

Check and change your incorrect drive letters one at a time:


Then rebuild MBR:


Then shutdown and unplug USB. Boot and see if it boots into windows.

Ok I'll try aomei pe. Ive downloaded on an older Windows 8.1 laptop and get the message "the signature of this program is corrupt or invaild" So I dont wanna try that. I wouldnt want any more computer problems.

Checked that page and load link is actually here:

Free Download AOMEI Software| Download AOMEI Backupper and Partition Assistant

RE: Your files. Maybe give this a go?

Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS - Windows 7 Help Forums

Personally I've not used that software but have used Knoppix and Puppy in the past. Currently I don't have any version of Linux lying around.

Okay I checked and the certificate has expired. They need to update it. The program should still work but I'm not really sure about using a PE Stick created on a windows 8 machine on windows 7. It's your call if you don't want to try it.



On another note - fixing drive letters and MBR may or may not work.

I did the download from their website the one you had a link to. Thanks much for taking the time to check it out and offer solutions. Spent the whole weekend messing around with the computers. I'll look into the other programs but the only other computer is a 8.1 crappy laptop.

Callender said:

Checked that page and load link is actually here:

Free Download AOMEI Software| Download AOMEI Backupper and Partition Assistant

RE: Your files. Maybe give this a go?

Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS - Windows 7 Help Forums

Personally I've not used that software but have used Knoppix and Puppy in the past. Currently I don't have any version of Linux lying around.

Click to expand...

Just got done replying to your post on the other thread there. When not having any distro on hand the first place to go would be a site like SorceForge I mentioned on the other thread where you can look up each distro and then proceed to that particular distro's own home site for choosing the latest release. Linux Mint has been found an excellent replacement as a Debian build you can run live with or see run on VMs a bit larger but also packs in plenty of a bit more Windows to Linux user friendly things like the media player. The installer packages are a bit easier these days as well as compared to years past since manual installations are best left for the "Linux Geeks" if you follow the drift?!

Ubuntu has continued on as well with many favoring Ubuntu for Ubuntu compatible apps when going to multiple OSs. The freeware ISO burning/writing apps linked on the other thread are always good to keep on hand since I been seeing Bootable flash drives for Vista as well as 7 and 10 along with various distros over the years for live repairs as well as live data recovery.

Just wanted to update. I was able to get linux puppy on a bootable USB. My user files from the HD were gone. I had to take the comp in and pay to get my files recovered. Its been a painfull lesson in doing backups. Thanks again for the info help.

8.1 versus W10 labtop I would agree is a "Lost Cause" for sure! On the other hand however the ability to recover files using the alternative OS's capabilities during a live boot from usb type session can be just that an effective tool when you... OOPS! SO SORRY... Did Not See that ANY Methods of Backing things up was put in use prior to any type of mishap? A GOOD working Backup plan is precisely what CAN Save You on a worst day! F

ollow the guides for this in the Tutorial section before you run into anything like this again is the solid "Word of Advice" to follow! After decades of dealing with this stuff I still find circumstances Where IF I had not Backed Things UP! would now be shaking my head saying Why Didn't I do just that?! Pigdog99 Take Heed of the Lesson to be Learned! Too many of us have already been caught off guard having NOT done full backups in years past and have also learned some Hard Lessons!